Southend United U18's 3 Barnet U18's 0
Match Report by Robert Craven

An accomplished display saw Southend United's Under-18 side record a comfortable 3-0 victory over Barnet at Boots & Laces this weekend.

Barnet arrived in southeast Essex having been thrashed 7-3 at Roots Hall in the Second Round of the F.A. Youth Cup earlier this season, but a 0-0 draw with a young Blues side in February and a recent 1-0 victory against Youth Alliance front-runners Queens Park Rangers are perhaps more indicative of the Hertfordshire club's recent form.

This was a much-changed Southend side again, with many of the second-years out on work experience and the Under-16s, who had performed so well a month or so ago, returned to duty with their age group at Colchester United.

Boss Ricky Duncan instead opted to hand trials to a number of 17-year-olds seeking a professional contract. Left-back Jordan Yong and central midfielder Tom Miller both arrived from Academy outfit Norwich City, whilst Michael Moon returned having impressed in previous appearances ion the youth and reserve teams after switching from Millwall. Later, forward Jake Hall would appear as a second-half substitute.

Jamie Forshaw, making his return from a severe bruising to his foot, started up front alongside Tashan Adeyinka and was quickly involved, darting in behind the Barnet defence to win a corner. Moon's delivery was headed inches off target by Adeyinka at the near post.

Nathan McDonald was forced into an early save, blocking with his legs having advanced off of his line, but a wonderful flowing move on 14 minutes epitomised the spirit with which Southend were playing. Forshaw played Miller into a shooting position, and when his 20-yard effort was palmed away, Adeyinka saw his attempt blocked by a defender.

That secondary effort would not have counted, with the assistant referee flagging for offside, but Miller immediately headed the goalkeeper's kick back towards the penalty area, and hesitancy between the custodian and his defence allowed Forshaw to skip onto the ball and execute a composed finish.

Front-man Adeyinka was a constant threat, either with his own attempts on goal or by assisting others, and his one-two with Stuart O'Keefe helped the midfielder drill a left-footed shot goalwards, only for the 'keeper to make a vital save with his legs. Moon's follow-up was slashed over.

Eight minutes before half-time, Ricky Byrne and David Obaze, returning from his spell with Ryman League Premier Division Harlow Town, combined to stop a Barnet forward, the opponent's eventual effort being deflected into the gloves of McDonald. At the other end, towering defender Obaze nodded past the left-hand upright from Moon's corner.

The second period began with the teenage Blues continuing to find themselves in the ascendancy. Two of the trialists combined when Moon found Miller, who dug out a pass in the boggy midfield to O'Keefe, who fired inches over the bar. The pair linked up well again when Moon's flag-kick was headed over by Miller.

Southend appeared destined to score, and after 51 minutes, O'Keefe delivered his second goal of the competitive season. A ball from the left was touched into the midfielder's path by Adeyinka, and the former Ipswich Town youngster drove his low effort just inside the left-hand post.

It was a mere 55 seconds before Blues made it 3-0. O'Keefe this time returned the compliment, searching out Adeyinka, whose vicious effort from 25 yards thundered off of the right-hand post. The ball fell fortuitously to Moon, who tapped in nonchalantly past a floundering goalkeeper.

The wide-man then set-up Forshaw, who flashed a left-footed effort past the post in his final action before being withdrawn on the hour mark. O'Keefe was also substituted midway through the second period, with Medi Abalimba coming on and seeing an early attempt scrambled off of the line after Adeyinka expertly cut the ball back.

The final quarter-of-an-hour saw further opportunities, with Moon's cross headed into the path of Miller by the attacking Obaze at the far post, only for the Wisbech-based midfielder to power his headed effort over.

Fredrik Ljungström was also wayward, having held off a defender to race on to Hall's through ball, and even late on, the Bees' shotstopper made a fine save to claw Obaze's header away from the top right-hand corner of the net.

This result may not have been so flattering as the Youth Cup success earlier in the season, but the fluency of the football and the maturity of Southend's first-year scholars will have pleased Duncan more than that win, even though the morning was soured when Byrne had to be carried off with a knee injury during stoppage time.

Southend United Under-18s: Nathan McDonald; Dan Harvey, David Obaze, Ricky Byrne, Jordan Yong; Stuart O'Keefe (Medi Abalimba 67), Tommy Miller, Davis Abbey, Michael Moon; Jamie Forshaw (Fredrik Ljungström 60), Tashan Adeyinka (Jake Hall 71).

Subs not used: Gordon Rieck and Jack Morris.

Photo: Graham Bridgeman-Clarke